clark



UIT l. i S ATES T FFICE.

CHARLES E. CLARK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND GEO. W. CLARK, OF SAME PLACE.

CATAMENIAL BANDAGE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CI-nmnns E. CLARK, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of h/ilassachusetts, have invented a new and useful or Improved Menstrual Receiver or Truss; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following specification and the accomn Y panying drawings, of which- Figure l, 1s a top view; Fig. 2, a side elevation; Fig. 3, an underside view; Fig. 4, a transverse section, and Fig. 5, a longitudinal section of it. Fig. 6, is a longitudinal section of its lling valve and pipe. Fig. 7, is a transverse section of the valve and its seat.

The said menstrual receiver is to be worn by females during the periods of menstruation and for the purpose of intercepting the uterine flowage or discharge. It is intended to hold a piece of soft sponge in the cavity or space between thetwo airtight iniatable crescents which are shown at A, B. Each of the said crescents is a vessel made of vulcanized caoutchouc or other proper flexible air tight material, and hollow so as when in Hated with air to operate like a cushion, flexible in all directions. These two cushions are conjoined by a septum or connection piece C, .which is constructed of waterproof material and extends from the outer surface or edge of one to that of the other, and so as to make an elongated cap shaped space, D, capable of holding a sponge or other proper absorbent. Furthermore, at or near the two contiguous ends of the two vessels, they open into one another by a nipe or conduit, c, so connected with the two as to allow air to pass freely from one to the other. Besides this, at the opposite end of one of the crescents is a filling hole or passage b, provided with a valve, c, and an inflating tube (l. The filling hole b, is made through the scat, e, of the valve, c, such seat being atthe bottom of a metallic valve socket f, which has a female screw, g, formed in it and'is cemented inthe hollow crescent. A cup shaped valve, c, screws into the socket piece, is formed as shown in section in the drawings and is furnished with one or more lateral air passages, z', z', leading through its sides below the screw and where its diameter is less than that of the screw. This cup shaped valve receives a filling pipe, or key tube, 7c,

which should fit into it, so as to be capable 23,059, dated February a2, 1859'.

when turned around axially of causing the valve to turn in its cup or socket. By means of this key tube which may be detached from the valve when the instrument is in use, the crescent airtight cushions may` be inflated with air which when the valve is screwed down on its seat will remain sustained in the crescents. By raising the valve off its seat and squeezing the instrument, the air will be expelled from it so as to enable it to be folded up or packed away in a very small space.

In wearing the instrument, a female places it between the legs, and so as to cover the labia of the vagina, and confines it in place by two or more elastic straps Z, m, extended from its corners or ends and upward on the back and front parts of the body to acincture or belt, extended around the body above the hips.

By being constructed of waterproof material the deposits made in the instrument when in use, can easily be removed by water or washing. Besides this, the sponge contained in it can be taken out and rinsed or cleansed as often as may be necessary. The advantages of this'instrument can only be appreciated bythe sex `for whom it is intended. The soft, air crescents or cushions are fleXi` ble in all ways and therefore cause a perfect fit of the instrument to the body of the wearer, whether she be in a standing, stooping, sitting, or reclining position. The air being removed from the crescents, the whole instrument is rendered capable of being rolled or folded up into a very small com pass.

I am aware that an article somewhat analy ogous to my menstrual receiver has been long known and used. This said article, however, and which I do not claim as my invention, was an elongated cavette or dish having cushions at its corners and its upperedges covered with a soft substance. It held a small sponge, which was furnished with crossed wires for holding it in place and for enabling a person by pulling on them to compress the sponge and discharge its contents. Such a device differs in many important particulars from mine, which is an improved article of manufacture and has its cushions extended the entire length of the instrument, and are largest in diameter at the middle part of the instrument. There are no eXtra cushions in its ends or in the ies cavity between the two cushions, such cavity being intended to hold a long piece of sponge. This mode of making the instrument insures a much better fit of it to the wearer than when made as a long dish or trough with bound or cushioned edges and cushions placed in its ends. Besides holding a sponge to better advantage, my instrument is much easier to the wearer, adapts itself better to the form under any or all circumstances and is more portable than the other. I am also aware of the receivers of Stark and Segin, as described in Fritzes BamcZag/en @md ilfaschz'nen pages 161 and 163. Starks instrument is a funnel made of tin and provided with means of strapping it to a person, while Segins is a funnel made of gum. I do not claim such devices as they differ materially froml mine as in the first place, mine is no funnel, or any contrivance analogous thereto as it is a vessel to hold a sponge, and is Constructed in a peculiar manner, that is, of two inflatable water and airproof crescents, united by a waterproof septum extending from one to the other shown at 0, in Fig. 4, such crescents when inflated, being flexible, and operating not only as elastic springs to hold the sponge, but by compressing it to cause it to lit to good advantage against the body of the wearer. They are also advantageous in other respects.

Therefore, what I claim is- Hy improved manufacture of menstrual receiver, as made of two inflatable waterproof crescentic-shaped vessels united by a waterproof septum and arranged together and .with the septum and provided with means of supplying them with air and disharging it therefrom substantially as speci- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature.

CHAS. E. CLARK.

Witnesses R. H. EDDY, F. P. HALE, Jr. 

